Fu-Schnickens

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The Fu-Schnickens were a hip-hop trio in the early 1990s. Similar to Das Efx for their cartoonish lyrics and near-constant allusions to pop culture staples, the Fu-Schnickens' popularity was brief but significant in hip hop history. Their best known track is 1993's "What's Up Doc? (Can We Rock)," which featured basketball star Shaquille O'Neal, which was a Top 40 hit.

1 History
2 Trivia
3 Discography
4 External links
- 4.1 Lyrics

[edit] History

The Fu-Schnickens comprised Chip Fu (Roderick Roachford), Moc Fu (J. Jones), and Poc Fu (Lennox Maturine). "Fu" stood for "For Unity" and "Schnicken" was a made-up word which apparently meant "coalition". The three friends from East Flatbush, Brooklyn first gained attention after performing at a rap event at Howard University, after which they were signed by Jive Records. The group's dancehall-inflected single, "Ring the Alarm," hit the top ten on Billboard magazine's Hot Rap Tracks chart in 1991, sparking anticipation for the group's debut album. F.U. Don't Take It Personal (1992). With the hit singles, "La Schmoove" (featuring Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest) and "True Fu-Schnick", the album reached the Rap/R&B Top 20 and was certified gold by the RIAA.

In 1993, the Fu-Schnickens began work on their second album. They recorded a fast-paced song called "What's Up Doc?" which featured a sample of Bugs Bunny saying his famous catchphrase. But they could not get sample clearance from Warner Bros. so they shelved the song. Meanwhile, the then-rookie NBA star Shaquille O'Neal was a media sensation. In many interviews, he talked about his love of hip-hop music and stated that the Fu-Schnickens were his favorite rap group. This prompted the group to contact O'Neal for a collaboration. O'Neal recorded a verse that was added on to the already-recorded "What's Up Doc?" with the group and O'Neal saying "What's up, doc?" to replace the Bugs Bunny sample. Although, the group had not yet completed work on their album, the song was quickly released as a single to capitalize on O'Neal's popularity. The single was a Top 40 hit in the summer of 1993, briefly propelling the group into the mainstream. The group's second album, Nervous Breakdown, did not arrive until 1994, by which time the rap landscape had dramatically changed, and there was no longer an audience for their unique style.

The Fu-Schnickens are also notable for their many references to martial arts films and Asian culture. This predates the influence of the Wu-Tang Clan who eventually helped make such references popular in hip-hop music.

Chip Fu still works on the fringes of the rap scene. Chip Fu recorded a track produced by Oh No of Stones Throw Records in 2005, and he makes an appearance on the 2005 debut album by Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Now in 2006, he is putting the finishing touches on his long overdue solo album titled Math, with production from Oh No, Ali Shaheed, Da Beatminerz, Needlez and others.

[edit] Trivia

The track "La Schmoove" is briefly heard in the 1993 Michael Douglas movie Falling Down, right before Douglas's character enters the "Whammyburger" fast-food restaurant.